Mirror, Mirror on the Wall… Mirror Imagery in The Scarlet Letter
According to research in the field of psychology, guilt manifests itself in many ways. Often those who feel guilty see assurances for their feeling in the action of others—even when the public has no interest in his or her private life. In a conservative society, however, rules are imposed upon him or her, barring the person from moving ahead with their life, no matter how insignificant the crime. Michael L. Lasser takes a similar approach, arguing that Pearl is a mirror image of Hesters guilt—a constant reminder of her mistake. Lassers argument has merit because Hawthorne not only uses mirror imagery in relation to Hesters guilt, but also in regards the emotions of all characters.
In Mirror Imagery in The Scarlet Letter, Michael Lasser argues that Hawthorne uses mirror imagery to reveal a characters innermost secrets and ulterior motives. The child Pearl is described as, the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life! Having made this statement, he explains his argument through Hesters impressions of Pearls eyes—full of smiling malice. When Hester and Pearl visit the governors mansion, Hester notices a look of naughty merriment in the little girls eyes. Hawthorne also mentions a fiend that occasionally peeps out of Pearls eyes. Through his description of Hesters impression of the evil that lurks within Pearl, Lasser comments on the notion that Pearl is evil by using the Puritan statement that no good comes from evil. Since Pearl is illegitimate and the result of an act of sin—the ultimate Puritan evil—she is seen as evil as well. Lasser explains further that Pearl is not only the embodiment of Hesters sin, but also of her conscience. Lasser explains that Pearl knows her mothers deepest feelings in a way uncommon to a child of her age. Thus, Lasser illustrates that Pearl is used a symbol—a mirror— for Hesters guilt.
Lasser argues that Hawthorne uses similar mirror imagery techniques with Dimmesdale and Chillingworth as he does with
In Mirror Imagery in The Scarlet Letter, Michael Lasser argues that Hawthorne uses mirror imagery to reveal a characters innermost secrets and ulterior motives. The child Pearl is described as, the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life! Having made this statement, he explains his argument through Hesters impressions of Pearls eyes—full of smiling malice. When Hester and Pearl visit the governors mansion, Hester notices a look of naughty merriment in the little girls eyes. Hawthorne also mentions a fiend that occasionally peeps out of Pearls eyes. Through his description of Hesters impression of the evil that lurks within Pearl, Lasser comments on the notion that Pearl is evil by using the Puritan statement that no good comes from evil. Since Pearl is illegitimate and the result of an act of sin—the ultimate Puritan evil—she is seen as evil as well. Lasser explains further that Pearl is not only the embodiment of Hesters sin, but also of her conscience. Lasser explains that Pearl knows her mothers deepest feelings in a way uncommon to a child of her age. Thus, Lasser illustrates that Pearl is used a symbol—a mirror— for Hesters guilt.
Lasser argues that Hawthorne uses similar mirror imagery techniques with Dimmesdale and Chillingworth as he does with
Bibliography: Mirror Imagery in 'The Scarlet Letter '" Michael L. Lasser, The English Journal, Vol. 56, No. 2 (Feb., 1967), pp.274-277: National Council of Teachers of English, http://www.jstor.org/stable/811696